Turret punch press and control method of the same

Abstract

To provide a turret punch press which shortens processing time to apply punch work to a work-piece.SOLUTION: A turret punch press 100 performs, after performing punch work of a first work-piece based on a first processing program, punch work of a second work-piece based on a second processing program. A control device (numerical control apparatus 7) controls a mold movement mechanism (arm 6) to extract according to the first command from a station 40 a first mold used according to a command of the first processing program attached to the station 40 of a turret 4 to which a second mold used according to a second command of the second processing program following the first command will be attached before starting the punch work of the second work-piece W. The control device controls the mold movement mechanism to return the extracted first mold to a storage 5 within the time period of performing the punch work of the second work-piece W and extract the second mold from the storage 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a turret punch press and a method for controlling a turret punch press. [Background technology]

[0002] Turret punch presses, which use a punch and a die as dies to punch a workpiece, are widely used. Turret punch presses include a turret on which the dies used to punch the workpiece are mounted, and storage for the dies before and after use. (See Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-66023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A turret punch press punches a workpiece according to a machining program. The machining program is a machine control code that generally consists of multiple commands, each of which includes the position (coordinates) where the workpiece is to be punched, the station number on the turret where the die used to punch the workpiece is attached, and the number indicating the die used to punch the workpiece. Each command in the machining program is called a T command.

[0005] A turret punch press changes the dies attached to the turret for each T command. When the turret punch press is punching a workpiece according to a T command, the dies attached to the turret cannot be changed. When a turret punch press attempts to punch a workpiece according to a machining program, the dies used in the previous punching are already attached to the turret station. In this case, a conventional turret punch press requires a machining time that includes the change time required to change the dies attached to the turret and the actual machining time, which is separate from the change time, to actually punch the workpiece. There is a demand for shortening the machining time required for a turret punch press to punch a workpiece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of one or more embodiments is a punching machine including a turret having a plurality of stations for mounting dies used to punch a workpiece; a storage for mounting the dies used to punch a workpiece and the dies after use; a die moving mechanism for moving the dies mounted on the turret to the storage and moving the dies mounted in the storage to the turret; and a punching machine for punching a first workpiece according to a first machining program including at least one command, and then punching a second workpiece according to a second machining program including a plurality of commands, the punching machine including at least one command. and a control device that controls the die moving mechanism to remove the first die used in response to any command included in the first processing program, which is attached to a station of the turret where a second die to be used in response to a second command following a first command, should be attached, from the station of the turret before punching of the second workpiece is started in response to the first command, and that controls the die moving mechanism to return the removed first die to the storage and further remove the second die from the storage during the time when the second workpiece is being punched.

[0007] A second aspect of one or more embodiments is a control device for controlling a turret punch press, the control device including a turret having a plurality of stations for mounting dies used to punch a workpiece, a storage for mounting the dies used to punch a workpiece and the dies after use, and a die moving mechanism for moving the dies mounted on the turret to the storage and moving the dies mounted in the storage to the turret, the control device being configured to, when punching a first workpiece in accordance with a first machining program including at least one command, punch a second workpiece in accordance with a second machining program including a plurality of commands, and a second command that follows a first command, which is one of the plurality of commands included in the first processing program, to remove the first die used in response to any command included in the first processing program from the station of the turret where the second die to be used in response to a second command that follows a first command, which is one of the plurality of commands included in the first processing program, should be mounted; and the die moving mechanism is controlled to return the removed first die to the storage and further to remove the second die from the storage during the time when the second workpiece is being punched. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one or more embodiments of the turret punch press and the method for controlling the turret punch press, the processing time required for the turret punch press to punch a workpiece can be shortened. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a turret punch press according to the first and second embodiments. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of an NC device provided in the turret punch press according to the first and second embodiments. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a first machining program used in the turret punch press according to the first and second embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a second machining program used in the turret punch press according to the first and second embodiments. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a turret provided in the turret punch press according to the first and second embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a storage provided in the turret punch press according to the first and second embodiments. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a first comparative example of the operation of a turret punch press and a control method for the turret punch press. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a first comparative example following FIG. 7A. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a second comparative example of the operation of a turret punch press and a control method for the turret punch press. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a second comparative example following FIG. 8A. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing the operation of the turret punch press according to the first embodiment and a control method for the turret punch press according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a diagram following FIG. 9A, showing the operation of the turret punch press according to the first embodiment and the control method of the turret punch press according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the operation of the turret punch press according to the second embodiment and a control method for the turret punch press according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the turret punch press according to the second embodiment and a control method for the turret punch press according to the second embodiment, following FIG. 10A. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the turret punch press according to the second embodiment and a control method for the turret punch press according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a turret punch press and a method for controlling a turret punch press according to first and second embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The turret punch press according to the first embodiment and the turret punch press according to the second embodiment have a common configuration. In FIG. 1, a turret punch press 100 according to the first and second embodiments includes a main body 1, a table 2 on which a workpiece W, which is a sheet metal to be processed, is placed, a workpiece moving mechanism 3 that moves the workpiece W integrally with the table 2, a storage 5, and an NC device 7. The main body 1 is provided with a turret 4 that is rotatable about an axis 4a, and an arm 6 that rotates about an axis 6a.

[0011] A machining program server 8 is connected to the NC device 7. The machining program server 8 may be installed in a remote location away from the NC device 7 and connected to the NC device 7 via any network such as a LAN.

[0012] The workpiece moving mechanism 3 has a workpiece holding unit 31 that holds the workpiece W using, for example, three workpiece clampers 32, an X-axis 33, and a Y-axis 34. The workpiece moving mechanism 3 can move the workpiece holding unit 31 in the X-axis direction along the X-axis 33. The workpiece moving mechanism 3 can move the workpiece holding unit 31 integrally with the table 2 in the Y-axis direction along the Y-axis 34. The X-axis and Y-axis directions are perpendicular to each other. The Y-axis direction is a direction in which, when the workpiece W is moved in a first direction along the Y-axis direction (leftward in FIG. 1), the workpiece W always approaches the turret 4, and, when the workpiece W is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the Y-axis direction (rightward in FIG. 1), the workpiece W always moves away from the turret 4.

[0013] The turret 4 is provided with a plurality of stations 40 for mounting a plurality of dies. Specifically, the turret 4 includes an upper turret for mounting a plurality of punches and a lower turret for mounting a plurality of dies. The storage 5 is provided with a plurality of stations 50 for mounting the dies. The storage 5 is provided near the turret 4 and in a position close to the main body 1. The storage 5 holds a plurality of dies, including dies waiting to be used and dies after use.

[0014] Specifically, the storage 5 includes a punch storage for mounting a punch and a die storage for mounting a die. The die storage may be configured with two levels arranged above and below. The storage 5 is rotatable around an axis 5a.

[0015] The arm 6 constitutes at least a part of a mold moving mechanism that grasps a mold attached to the storage 5 and moves it to the turret 4, or grasps a mold attached to the turret 4 and moves it to the storage 5.

[0016] An example of the internal configuration of the NC device 7 will be described using FIG. 2. The NC device 7 includes an information processing unit 71, an operation control unit 72, and a memory unit 73. The information processing unit 71 has a machining program analysis unit 711. The operation control unit 72 has a press control unit 721, a tool movement plan formulation unit 722, and a tool replacement operation control unit 723. The memory unit 73 stores tool location information including information indicating which station in the turret 4 or storage 5 each tool is attached to and information indicating whether each tool is held by the arm 6. The memory unit 73 also stores, as the tool location information, location information of the tools used in each machining program, including machining programs used when punching a workpiece W in the past. The NC device 7 is an example of a control device that controls the turret punch press 100.

[0017] The machining program analysis unit 711 analyzes a machining program for punching the workpiece W. The press control unit 721 controls the operation of the turret punch press 100 to punch the workpiece W in accordance with the analyzed machining program. The die movement plan formulation unit 722 formulates a movement plan for moving the die from the turret 4 to the storage 5 or from the storage 5 to the turret 4 in accordance with the analyzed machining program. The die exchange operation control unit 723 controls the exchange operation of the die between the turret 4 and the storage 5 in accordance with the movement plan formulated by the die movement plan formulation unit 722.

[0018] The turret punch press 100 punches a workpiece W (first workpiece) according to a first machining program PG1 shown in Fig. 3, and then punches another workpiece W (second workpiece) according to a second machining program PG2 shown in Fig. 4. The punching of the workpiece W according to the first machining program PG1 and the punching of the workpiece W according to the second machining program PG2 may be two punching operations that are adjacent in time, or may be two punching operations that are not adjacent in time.

[0019] In the following explanation, the replacement operation of a die among the molds will be taken as an example. The replacement operation of a punch is similar to the replacement operation of a die. Each line in Figures 3 and 4 is a T command. In the first machining program PG1 and the second machining program PG2, "X_Y_" indicates the position (coordinate) where the workpiece W is punched. In reality, "X_Y_" is a specific numerical value that specifies the X coordinate and the Y coordinate, for example, X1000Y1200.

[0020] For example, in the first T command "X_ Y_ T1018011" in Figure 3, "T101" following "X_Y_" indicates the number of station 40 of turret 4. "801" following "T101" is the number of the die used to punch workpiece W, and indicates die S801. The "1" following "801" indicates that the die is attached to the upper die storage when the die storage is configured in two stages arranged vertically.

[0021] 5 shows some of the stations 40 of the turret 4. The numbers of the stations 40 to which the dies specified in the first machining program PG1 and the second machining program PG2 are attached are T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306. It is assumed that the stations 40 T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306 are located, for example, at the positions shown in FIG.

[0022] In the first machining program PG1, the dies that are attached to and used in the stations 40 of T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306 are dies S801 to S806. In the second machining program PG2, the dies that are attached to and used in the stations 40 of T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306 are dies S901 to S906. It is assumed that the dies S801 to S806 and S901 to S906 are dies that are attached (attached) to the stations 50 at the respective positions of the storage 5 shown in FIG.

[0023] Before describing the operation of the turret punch press 100 and the control method of the turret punch press executed by the turret punch press 100, a first comparative example will be described using Figures 7A and 7B, and a second comparative example will be described using Figures 8A and 8B. When the turret punch press 100 completes punching of the workpiece W in accordance with the first machining program PG1 shown in Figure 3, dies S801 to S806 are attached to stations 40 T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306 of the turret 4, respectively.

[0024] <First Comparative Example> The NC device 7 controls the turret punch press 100 to punch the workpiece W as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B in accordance with the second machining program PG2 shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 7A, the NC device 7 executes operation OP71 in response to a T command of "X_ Y_ T1019011." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The reason for moving the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction at the beginning of operation OP71 and operations OP72 to OP76, which will be described later, is to prevent the workpiece W from blocking the opening and closing of the die in the turret 4 when the die is moved from the turret 4 to the storage 5 or from the storage 5 to the turret 4.

[0025] The NC unit 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return the die S801 from the station 40 of T101 to the storage 5. As a result, the station 40 of T101 of the turret 4 becomes empty. The NC unit 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S901 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T101. The NC unit 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S901. In operations OP71 to OP76, the white arrows indicate the time during which punching of the workpiece W continues.

[0026] After punching using the die S901 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP72 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T2029021." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 returns the die S802 from the station 40 of T202 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S902 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T202. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S902.

[0027] After punching using the die S902 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP73 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T3039031." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 returns the die S803 from the station 40 of T303 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S903 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T303. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S903.

[0028] In FIG. 7B, after punching using the die S903 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP74 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T1049041." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 returns the die S804 from station 40 T104 to storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S904 from storage 5 to station 40 T104. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S904.

[0029] After punching using the die S904 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP75 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T2059051." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 returns the die S805 from the station 40 of T205 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S905 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T205. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S905.

[0030] After punching using the die S905 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP76 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T3069061." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 returns the die S806 from the station 40 of T306 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S906 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T306. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S906. Thereafter, punching using the die S906 is completed.

[0031] In the first comparative example, all of the operations OP71 to OP76 require time to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction.

[0032] <Second Comparative Example> The NC device 7 controls the turret punch press 100 to punch the workpiece W as shown in Figures 8A and 8B in accordance with the second machining program PG2 shown in Figure 4. In Figure 8A, the NC device 7 executes operation OP81 in response to a T command "X_Y_T1019011." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction.

[0033] The NC unit 7 returns the die S801 from station 40 of T101 to storage 5, and moves the die S901 from storage 5 to station 40 of T101. The NC unit 7 returns the die S802 from station 40 of T202 to storage 5, and moves the die S902 from storage 5 to station 40 of T202. The NC unit 7 returns the die S803 from station 40 of T303 to storage 5, and moves the die S903 from storage 5 to station 40 of T303.

[0034] The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return die S804 from station 40 of T104 to storage 5 and move die S904 from storage 5 to station 40 of T104. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return die S805 from station 40 of T205 to storage 5 and move die S905 from storage 5 to station 40 of T205. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return die S806 from station 40 of T306 to storage 5 and move die S906 from storage 5 to station 40 of T306.

[0035] As described above, in the second comparative example, in operation OP81 corresponding to the first T command, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism so as to return all of the dies S801 to S806 attached to stations 40 T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306 to storage 5 in any order. Also, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism so as to move all of the dies S901 to S906 from storage 5 to stations 40 T101, T202, T303, T104, T205, and T306 in any order.

[0036] In operation OP81, the NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S901.

[0037] After punching using the die S901 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP82 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T2029021." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S902. After punching using the die S902 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP83 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T3039031." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S903.

[0038] 8B , after punching using the die S903 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP84 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T1049041." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S904. After punching using the die S904 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP85 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T2059051." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S905.

[0039] After punching using the die S905 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP86 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T3069061." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S906. Thereafter, punching using the die S906 is completed.

[0040] In the second comparative example, the machining time can be shortened by the time required to move the workpiece W five times to the origin in the Y-axis direction compared to the first comparative example. However, the effect of shortening the machining time is small, and it is desirable to shorten the machining time even further than in the second comparative example.

[0041] First Embodiment 9A and 9B, the operation of the turret punch press 100 according to the first embodiment and a control method for the turret punch press according to the first embodiment executed by the turret punch press 100 will be described. The NC device 7 controls the turret punch press 100 in accordance with the second machining program PG2 shown in FIG. 4 so as to punch the workpiece W as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

[0042] In FIG. 9A, the NC device 7 executes operation OP91 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T1019011." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 returns the die S801 from the station 40 of T101 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S901 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T101. In addition, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S802 from the station 40 of T202. At this time, the arm 6 holds the die S802. The die S802 is a die that has already been attached to the station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S902 to be used in response to the next T command should be attached.

[0043] In operation OP91, if the T command "X_ Y_ T1019011" is the first command, the next T command "X_ Y_ T2029021" becomes the second command.

[0044] The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S901. During the time indicated by the white arrow during which the turret punch press 100 is punching the workpiece W using the die S901, the NC device 7 returns the die S802 held by the arm 6 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S902 to be used in response to the next T command from the storage 5. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S902. The NC device 7 moves the arm 6 to a safe area near the turret 4.

[0045] The safety area is an area where the table 2 and turret 4 will not come into contact with the arm 6 or the die held by the arm 6, even if the table 2 or turret 4 moves. In other words, the safety area is an area that will not affect the punching of the workpiece W corresponding to each T command. If the die held by the arm 6 is moved near the turret 4, the time required to mount the die held by the arm 6 in station 40 of the turret 4 in the operation corresponding to the next T command can be shortened. It is preferable that the NC device 7 move the die held by the arm 6 to a position as close as possible to the turret 4 within the safety area.

[0046] The NC device 7 can determine whether the arm 6 has reached the safety area based on the coordinates of each axis of the arm 6. The NC device 7 can acquire the coordinates of each axis of the arm 6 based on encoder information of a motor (not shown) that moves the arm 6.

[0047] After punching using the die S901 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP92 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T2029021." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S902 held by the arm 6 to station 40 T202. In addition, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S803 from station 40 T303. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S803. The die S803 is a die that has already been attached to station 40 of the turret 4, where the die S903 to be used in response to the next T command should be attached.

[0048] In operation OP92, if the T command "X_ Y_ T2029021" is the first command, the next T command "X_ Y_ T3039031" becomes the second command.

[0049] The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S902. During the time indicated by the white arrow during which the turret punch press 100 is punching the workpiece W using the die S902, the NC device 7 returns the die S803 held by the arm 6 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S903 to be used in response to the next T command from the storage 5. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S903. The NC device 7 moves the arm 6 to a safe area near the turret 4.

[0050] After punching using the die S902 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP93 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T3039031." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S903 held by the arm 6 to station 40 T303. In addition, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S804 from station 40 T104. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S804. The die S804 is a die that has already been attached to station 40 of the turret 4, where the die S904 to be used in response to the next T command should be attached.

[0051] In operation OP93, if the T command "X_ Y_ T3039031" is the first command, the next T command "X_ Y_ T1049041" becomes the second command.

[0052] The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S903. During the time indicated by the white arrow during which the turret punch press 100 is punching the workpiece W using the die S903, the NC device 7 returns the die S804 held by the arm 6 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S904 to be used in response to the next T command from the storage 5. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S904. The NC device 7 moves the arm 6 to a safe area near the turret 4.

[0053] In FIG. 9B , after punching using the die S903 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP94 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T1049041." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S904 held by the arm 6 to station 40 T104. In addition, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S805 from station 40 T205. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S805. The die S805 is a die that has already been attached to station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S905 to be used in response to the next T command should be attached.

[0054] In operation OP94, if the T command "X_ Y_ T1049041" is the first command, the next T command "X_ Y_ T2059051" becomes the second command.

[0055] The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S904. During the time indicated by the white arrow during which the turret punch press 100 is punching the workpiece W using the die S904, the NC device 7 returns the die S805 held by the arm 6 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S905 to be used in response to the next T command from the storage 5. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S905. The NC device 7 moves the arm 6 to a safe area near the turret 4.

[0056] After punching using the die S904 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP95 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T2059051." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S905 held by the arm 6 to station 40 T205. In addition, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S806 from station 40 T306. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S806. The die S806 is a die that has already been attached to station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S906 to be used in response to the next T command should be attached.

[0057] In operation OP95, if the T command "X_ Y_ T2059051" is the first command, the next T command "X_ Y_ T3069061" becomes the second command.

[0058] The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S905. During the time indicated by the white arrow during which the turret punch press 100 is punching the workpiece W using the die S905, the NC device 7 returns the die S806 held by the arm 6 to the storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S906 to be used in response to the next T command from the storage 5. At this time, the arm 6 is holding the die S906. The NC device 7 moves the arm 6 to a safe area near the turret 4.

[0059] After punching using the die S905 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP96 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T3069061." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S906 held by the arm 6 to station 40 of T306. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S906. Thereafter, punching using the die S906 is completed.

[0060] The tool movement plan formulation unit 722 formulates movement plans for the movement of the tools S801 to S806 to the storage 5 and the movement of the tools S901 to S906 to the turret 4 in the operations OP91 to OP96 described above. The tool exchange operation control unit 723 controls the tool exchange operation between the turret 4 and the storage 5 in accordance with the movement plans formulated by the tool movement plan formulation unit 722. The press control unit 721 controls the punching of the workpiece W by the turret punch press 100 in the operations OP91 to OP96.

[0061] As described above, the turret punch press 100 and the control method for the turret punch press according to the first embodiment control the die moving mechanism to remove the die (first die) already attached to station 40 of the turret 4 where the die (second die) to be used in response to the next T command (second command) should be attached before starting punch processing of the workpiece W in the operation corresponding to each T command (first command) except the last T command.

[0062] Furthermore, the turret punch press 100 and the control method for the turret punch press according to the first embodiment control the die moving mechanism so that, during the operation corresponding to each T command, the die that has been grasped by the arm 6 and previously removed is returned to the storage 5 during the time that the workpiece W is being punched, and the die to be used in response to the next T command is grasped and removed from the storage 5.

[0063] That is, the turret punch press 100 and the control method for a turret punch press according to the first embodiment execute a part of the die exchange operation between the turret 4 and the storage 5 during the time that the workpiece W is being punched, in the operations corresponding to each T command except for the final T command, to the extent that it does not affect the punching of the workpiece W. Therefore, according to the turret punch press 100 and the control method for a turret punch press according to the first embodiment, the processing time that the turret punch press 100 takes to punch the workpiece W can be shortened.

[0064] In the turret punch press 100 and the control method for the turret punch press according to the first embodiment, the NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction as the first operation of operations OP91 to OP96 corresponding to each T command. As the first operation of operations OP92 to OP95, which are operations corresponding to a second command, the NC device 7 moves the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. Subsequently, in the operations corresponding to each T command except for the first T command, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die (second die) removed from storage 5 in the operation corresponding to the immediately preceding T command to station 40 of the turret 4.

[0065] Therefore, the die removed from the storage 5 in the operation corresponding to the immediately preceding T command can be mounted on the station 40 without any problems, and the workpiece W can be punched using the die.

[0066] In the turret punch press 100 and the control method for the turret punch press according to the first embodiment, although time is required to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction in the operation corresponding to each T command, the time required for the die replacement operation can be shortened, and therefore the processing time can be shortened compared to the second comparative example.

[0067] Second Embodiment 10A and 10B , the operation of the turret punch press 100 according to the second embodiment and a control method of the turret punch press according to the second embodiment executed by the turret punch press 100 will be described. In the first embodiment, the predetermined time required for some of the die exchange operations between the turret 4 and the storage 5, which are performed during the time when the workpiece W is punched, is several tens of seconds. Assume that the processing time for punching the workpiece W in an operation corresponding to one T command is short, such as two seconds. In this case, if the operation is performed as in the first embodiment, the predetermined time is longer than the processing time for punching the workpiece W corresponding to one T command, and therefore does not contribute to shortening the overall processing time.

[0068] The operation of the turret punch press 100 according to the second embodiment and the control method for the turret punch press according to the second embodiment are suitable when, among operations OP91 to OP96, there is an operation corresponding to a T command in which the punching time for the workpiece W is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time (for example, equal to or shorter than 4 seconds). As an example, let us assume that the punching time for operation OP94 corresponding to the T command "X_Y_T1049041" is equal to or shorter than 4 seconds.

[0069] Based on the machining program, the NC device 7 (mold movement planning unit 722) can calculate the approximate punching time for an operation corresponding to one T command, depending on the number of times the workpiece W is punched, the distance between the coordinates for punching the workpiece W at multiple locations, and the type of punching.

[0070] 10A, the NC device 7 executes operation OP101 in response to a T command "X_ Y_ T1019011." The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return the die S801 from station 40 of T101 to storage 5 and to move the die S901 from storage 5 to station 40 of T101.

[0071] The punch processing time in operation OP94 corresponding to the T command "X_ Y_ T1049041" is 4 seconds or less. Therefore, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return the die S804 from the station 40 of T104 to the storage 5, and move the die S904 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of T104, as surrounded by the dashed line.

[0072] The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove the die S802 from station 40 of T202. The NC device 7 controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2, and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S901. While the turret punch press 100 is punching the workpiece W using the die S901, the NC device 7 returns the die S802 held by the arm 6 to storage 5, and controls the die moving mechanism to remove from storage 5 the die S902 to be used in response to the next T command. The NC device 7 moves the arm 6 to a safe area near the turret 4.

[0073] An operation OP102 corresponding to the next T command "X_Y_T2029021" is the same as the operation OP92 shown in Fig. 9A. An operation OP103 corresponding to the T command "X_Y_T3039031" shown in Fig. 10B is the same as the operation OP93 shown in Fig. 9A.

[0074] In FIG. 10B, after punching using the die S903 is completed, the NC device 7 executes operation OP104 in response to the T command "X_ Y_ T1049041." The die S904 used in operation OP104 has already been moved to station 40 in operation OP101. In operation OP104, there is no need to move the workpiece W to the origin in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the NC device 7 immediately controls the workpiece moving mechanism 3 to move the table 2 and controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching the workpiece W using the die S904. As indicated by the short white arrow, the punching time in operation OP101 is short, less than four seconds.

[0075] The operation OP105 corresponding to the subsequent T command "X_Y_T2059051" is the same as the operation OP95 shown in FIG. 9B, and the operation OP106 corresponding to the T command "X_Y_T3069061" is the same as the operation OP96 shown in FIG. 9B.

[0076] The tool movement plan formulation unit 722 formulates movement plans for the movement of the tools S801 to S806 to the storage 5 and the movement of the tools S901 to S906 to the turret 4 in the operations OP101 to OP106 described above. The tool exchange operation control unit 723 controls the tool exchange operation between the turret 4 and the storage 5 in accordance with the movement plans formulated by the tool movement plan formulation unit 722. The press control unit 721 controls the punching of the workpiece W by the turret punch press 100 in the operations OP101 to OP106.

[0077] As described above, the second machining program PG2 includes T commands for which the machining time for punching the workpiece W (second workpiece) is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time corresponding to each T command among the plurality of T commands. At this time, the turret punch press 100 according to the second embodiment operates as follows, and the control method for the turret punch press according to the second embodiment controls the turret punch press 100 as follows.

[0078] The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism in the operation corresponding to the first T command among the multiple T commands as the first command as follows: The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return the die S801 (fourth die) attached to the station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S901 (third die) used in response to the first T command should be attached, from the station 40 of the turret 4 to the storage 5. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die S901 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S901 should be attached.

[0079] 10A and 10B, a die S904 (fifth die) is a die used in response to a T command in which the machining time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism so as to return a die S804 (sixth die) attached to the station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S904 should be attached, from the station 40 of the turret 4 to the storage 5. The NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism so as to move the die S904 from the storage 5 to the station 40 of the turret 4 where the die S904 should be attached.

[0080] 10A and 10B, only one die, die S904, is used in response to a T command whose machining time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time. When there are multiple dies that meet the condition of being used in response to a T command whose machining time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism as follows. In the operation corresponding to the first T command, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to return the die (sixth die) attached to station 40 of the turret 4 where each of the multiple applicable dies (fifth die) should be attached from station 40 of the turret 4 to storage 5. Furthermore, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move each applicable die from storage 5 to station 40 of the turret 4 where each applicable die should be attached.

[0081] According to the turret punch press 100 and the control method for the turret punch press of the second embodiment, even if the multiple T commands in the second processing program PG2 include T commands whose processing time is less than a predetermined time, for example, 4 seconds or less, the processing time for the turret punch press 100 to punch the workpiece W can be shortened.

[0082] The processing executed by the turret punch press 100 according to the second embodiment and the control method for the turret punch press according to the second embodiment will be further described using the flowchart shown in Fig. 11. The flowchart shown in Fig. 11 shows processing for each T command among multiple T commands included in the second machining program PG2.

[0083] When the process starts, the NC device 7 determines in step S1 whether the T command die has moved to a safety area near the turret 4. The T command die is a die that is used in response to a T command. If the T command die has moved to a safety area near the turret 4 (YES), the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the T command die held by the arm 6 to the turret 4 in step S2, and then the process proceeds to step S4.

[0084] If the T command mold has not moved to the safety area near the turret 4 in step S1 (NO), the NC device 7 controls the mold moving mechanism in step S3 to move the mold already attached to the station 40 of the turret 4 where the T command mold is to be attached to the storage 5. Also, in step S3, the NC device 7 controls the mold moving mechanism to move the T command mold from the storage 5 to the turret 4, and then proceeds to step S4.

[0085] It should be noted that there may be cases where no die is attached to station 40 of turret 4 where the T command die is to be attached, and station 40 of turret 4 where the T command die is to be attached is empty. Although not shown in FIG. 11 , before step S3, NC device 7 determines, based on the die location information, whether or not a die is already attached to station 40 where the T command die is to be attached. If a die is already attached to station 40 where the T command die is to be attached, NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move the die already attached to station 40 to storage 5.

[0086] In step S4, the NC unit 7 determines whether or not there are other replacement dies. A replacement die is a die that needs to be replaced between the turret 4 and the storage 5. If there are no other replacement dies (NO), the NC unit 7 shifts the process to step S9. If there are other replacement dies (YES), the NC unit 7 determines in step S5 whether or not there are T commands with a punching time of 4 seconds or less. If there are no T commands with a punching time of 4 seconds or less (NO), the NC unit 7 shifts the process to step S7.

[0087] If there is a T command with a punch processing time of 4 seconds or less (YES) in step S5, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism in step S6 to move the dies already attached to the stations 40 of the turret 4 to which all T command dies of the corresponding T command are attached to the storage 5. Also, in step S6, the NC device 7 controls the die moving mechanism to move all T command dies of the corresponding T command from the storage 5 to the turret 4, and then proceeds to step S7.

[0088] In step S7, the NC unit 7 determines whether or not there are other replacement dies. If there are no other replacement dies (NO), the NC unit 7 moves the process to step S9. If there are other replacement dies (YES), in step S8, the NC unit 7 controls the die moving mechanism to remove from the turret 4 the dies already attached to station 40 of the turret 4 to which the T command die in the next T command is to be attached. In step S9, the NC unit 7 controls the turret punch press 100 to start punching.

[0089] In step S10, the NC device 7 moves the removed die to the storage 5 in parallel with starting the punching process in step S9, and controls the die moving mechanism to move the T command die in the next T command from the storage 5 to a safety area near the turret 4. The NC device 7 ends the process when the punching process is completed.

[0090] Incidentally, in the first and second embodiments described above, the station 40 of the turret 4 to which the dies used in response to each T command of the first machining program PG1 are attached and the station 40 of the turret 4 to which the dies used in response to each T command of the second machining program PG2 are attached are all common to each other. If the station 40 to which the dies used in response to at least one T command of the second machining program PG2 are attached is common to the station 40 to which the dies used in response to any T command of the first machining program PG1 are attached, it is possible to execute the processing of the first or second embodiment.

[0091] If the first machining program PG1 includes at least one T command and the second machining program PG2 includes two or more T commands, it is possible to execute the processing of the first or second embodiment. If the first die used in response to any command in the first machining program PG1 has already been attached to the station 40 where the second die used in response to a second command following a first command in the second machining program PG2 should be attached, it is possible to execute the processing of the first or second embodiment.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1 Main body 2 tables 3 Workpiece moving mechanism 4 Turrets 5. Storage 6 Arm (mold movement mechanism) 7 NC unit (control unit) 8 Machining program server 31 Work holding part 32 Work clamper 33 X-axis 34 Y-axis 40,50 stations 71 Information Processing Department 72 Motion control section 73 Memory section 721 Press Control Unit 722 Mold Movement Planning Department 723 Mold change operation control unit 100 Turret Punch Press double work

Claims

1. a turret having a plurality of stations for mounting dies used for punching a workpiece; A mold used to punch the workpiece and a storage for the mold after use; a mold moving mechanism that moves the mold attached to the turret to the storage and moves the mold attached to the storage to the turret; a control device that, when punching a second workpiece according to a second machining program including a plurality of instructions after punching a first workpiece according to a first machining program including at least one instruction, controls the die moving mechanism to remove, from the station of the turret where a second die to be used in response to a second instruction following a first instruction which is one of the plurality of instructions included in the second machining program should be mounted, the first die used in response to any instruction included in the first machining program, before starting punching of the second workpiece in response to the first instruction; and controls the die moving mechanism to return the removed first die to the storage and further remove the second die from the storage during the time when the second workpiece is being punched; A turret punch press.

2. the mold moving mechanism has, as at least a part of its configuration, an arm that grips and removes the mold attached to the turret or the storage; The control device controls the die moving mechanism to move the second die removed by the arm from the storage to a safety area near the turret where the second die does not affect the punching of the second workpiece corresponding to the first command.

2. The turret punch press of claim 1.

3. Further provided is a workpiece moving mechanism that moves the first and second workpieces in X-axis and Y-axis directions that are orthogonal to each other, the Y-axis direction is a direction in which, when the first and second workpieces are moved in a first direction along the Y-axis direction, the first and second workpieces always approach the turret, and when the first and second workpieces are moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the Y-axis direction, the first and second workpieces always move away from the turret; The control device As a first operation in the operation corresponding to the second command, the workpiece moving mechanism is controlled to move the second workpiece to an origin in the Y-axis direction; Controlling the mold moving mechanism to move the second mold removed from the storage to a station of the turret where the second mold is to be mounted.

3. The turret punch press according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control device When there is a command in the plurality of commands included in the second machining program that requires a machining time for punching the second workpiece that is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, In an operation corresponding to a first command in the plurality of commands as the first command, returning a fourth tool used in response to any command included in the first machining program, which is attached to a station of the turret where a third tool used in response to the first command should be attached, from the station of the turret to the storage; moving the third mold from the storage to a station of the turret where the third mold is to be mounted; returning a sixth tool used in response to any command included in the first machining program, which is attached to a station of the turret where a fifth tool used in response to a command that the machining time is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time, from the station of the turret to the storage; Controlling the mold moving mechanism to move the fifth mold from the storage to a station of the turret where the fifth mold is to be mounted.

3. The turret punch press according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A control device for controlling a turret punch press including a turret having a plurality of stations for mounting dies used for punching a workpiece, a storage for mounting the dies used for punching a workpiece and the dies after use, and a die moving mechanism for moving the dies mounted on the turret to the storage and the dies mounted in the storage to the turret, When punching a first workpiece according to a first machining program including at least one command, and then punching a second workpiece according to a second machining program including a plurality of commands, controlling the die moving mechanism to remove, from a station of the turret where a second die to be used in response to a second command subsequent to a first command which is one of the plurality of commands included in the second machining program should be mounted, the first die used in response to any command included in the first machining program, before starting punch machining of the second workpiece in response to the first command; The die moving mechanism is controlled so that the extracted first die is returned to the storage and the second die is extracted from the storage during the time when the second workpiece is being punched. How to control a turret punch press.

Images